Art of manufacturing containers



5 Sheets-Sheet! J. M. AHLGREN ART OF MANUFACTURING CONTAINERS Flled April 28 1922 Feb. 26 1924.

Feb. 26, 1924. 1,485,061

J, M. AHLGREN ART OF MANUFACTURING CONTAINERS Filed April 28. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 lzpemzwf' L?? h/97672,

Feb. 26 1924. 1,485,061

J. M. AHLGREN ART OF MANUFACTURING CONTAINERS Filed April 28. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. M. AHLGREN ART OF MANUFACTURING CONTAINERS Feb. 26 1924. 1,485,061

Filed April 28. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Feb. 2s 1924. 1,485,061

J. M. AHLGREN ART OF MANUFACTURING CONTAINERS Filed Abril 28. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 26, 1924.

UNITED STATES 1,485,061 PATENT oFFlcE.

JOHN M. AHLGREN, F INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO AHLBELL BATTERY CONTAINER CORPORATION, 0F WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ART 0F MANUFACTURINGVKCONTAINERS. l

Application Bled April 28, 1922. Serial No. 557,131.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it known that I, JOHN M. AHLGREN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and El State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Art of Manufacturing Containers, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates more particularly, 1G though not exclusively, to the manufacture of battery containers commonly of a form and construction to receive the battery elements of a plural cell battery, as for example, and more particularly, storage batteries such as are used in automobiles and which containers are, by preference, formed of any suitable rubber compound.

My objects are to reduce the cost of manufacture of such containers and more especially containers of the type wherein the bottom, side walls and partitions dividing the container into cells are integral with each other; to improve upon containersas hitherto provided; to produce a highly se satisfactory and durable construction thereof; to provide a container wherein the handle portions thereof are formed integral with the walls on which they are provided and preferably outwardly offset from the walls carrying them; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view, with the parts disassembled, but in relatively alining position, of a core-equipped vulcanizing mold structure involving features ofvmy invention. Figure 2 is a similar view of the various elements from which the container may be formed-in the mold shown in Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the completed container, with portions thereof broken away to disclose interior details. Figure 4 is a plan view of the bottom, core-equipped, plate of the mold, one of the sections of the core being shown in section. Figure 5 is a broken, vertical, sectional view taken through the mold and showing the parts illustrated in Fig. 1, in assembled position, but with the container-forming elements omitted, the section being taken at the line 5 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 6 is a`` vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 4, this section being taken at the line 6 on Fig. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrow. Figure 7 is aview like Fig.l 6 of the upper right-hand corner ofthe structure shown in this ligure, this view showing the adjacent portion of the container formed therein and illustratingthe posit-ion occupied by the excess containerforming material in the molding of the. materialy to form the. container. Figure 8 is a view inside elevation of the plate to which the cores are connected, but with the cores omitted, onefhalf of the view being in section withl the core plate for the` handle at this end of the mold omitted; and Figure 9, a perspective view of the core plate for the handle portion of the container. Y

The construction of mold illustrated, comprises a bottom plate 21 from which rises, centrally thereof, the core-structure about which the elements .shown in Fig. 2, and hereinafter referred to, aremolded. The core-structure shown, and suitable for molding a 3-cell container, is formed of three similar sections 22 extending crossl wise of the plate 21 and extending at their lower ends into recesses 23 extending transversely of the upper, relatively narrow,'por tion 24 of the plate 21, these core-sections being thus spaced apart as represented at 25. The core-sections 22 are secured to the plate as by the bolts 26 and are preferabl of the same length as the recesses into whic they extend. The opposite walls of the sections 22 converge slightly in an upward .di-

rection in Fig. 1 for the purpose of providing draft andtheir upperl surfaces contain series of alining notches27`- the opposite walls of which. converge downwardly, likewise to provide draft. By locating` the core elements 22 as stated, the plate` portion 21 extends llaterally in all directions beyond these corel sections and in a plane below the latter, thereby affording the con# tinuous ledge 28 surrounding the group of core-sections 22. The plate 21 at opposite edges thereof adjacent the narrow ends of the core-sections 22 is provided with bars 29 which rest upon certain portions of t-he ledge 28 and are secured, asby screws 30, in position to overlap the lower edges of the ends of the core-sections 22 and aid in reventing displacement of the latter..y l e portions of the ledge 28 at the ends of the plate 21 are recessed, as represented at 31, to receive core-plates 32 hereinafter described, and beyond these recesses are recessed at 33 for a purpose hereinafter described. The core-plates 32, shown as recessedas represented at 34, at their outer ends, to interfit with the ends of the bars 29 vertically slidingly fit within the recesses 31 and between their ends present the laterally-opening channels 35 of general U- shape which open at their ends. through the upper surfacesof the core-plates32 and in which the handle-portions of the container are formed, the recesses`33 having curved lower surfaces substantially concentric with the lower surfaces of the channels 35 but in a lower plane as shown.

The ledges provided by the upper surfaces of the bars 29 and thev surfaces provided by the tops of the core-plates 32 constitute the bottom surfaces of the mold cavity, for the portions of the container located between the handle portions thereof, and the channels constitute the mold cavities for the handleportions. The ledges 28 serve as supports for the side and end walls hereinafter referred to, of the mold.

In the use of the mold structure for producing a container, the container-forming material located in the mold and preferably assembled with the core, as hereinafter stated, is subjected to vulcanizing heat, and to this end the core sections 22 of the mold structure, which latter is preferably made of metal, are chambered, as represented at 36, to receive the medium, as for example steam, for effecting the vulcanizing operation. In the arrangement shown the bottom plate 21 of the mold contains a plurality of passages 37 and 38 opening into the re` specti ve chambers 36 and serving as a means lf)or circulating steam through these chamers.

The side-and-end-wall-forming portion of the mold is represented at 39,it being shown as a hollow rectangular structure open at its top and bottom and adapted to be applied to seating position at its lower edges upon the ledge 28 to encircle the core-structure formed of the sections 22 and provide, between this core-structure and the structure 39, a continuous space, the wall-forming portion 39 of the mold relatively closely fitting the vertical exterior surfaces of the bars 29 and ythe core-plates 32. The edges of the endrepresented at 39'L to provide for the molding of a sufficient body of the container-forming material at the juncture of the handle-portions of the container with the walls carry ing them.

The mold-member 39 extends above the top surfaces of the core sections 22,`and contains dowel-receiving openings 41 to receive the depending dowels 42 provided on the top plate 43 of the mold. This plate is provided with a depending rect-angular portion 44 inset from the marginal edges of the plate 43 throughout their extent and of such shape and proportions that it extends into the upper end of the opening in the structure 39, but in spaced relation thereto throughout its extent, to provide the continuous cleaiance represented at 45, the parts being vso proportioned and arranged that a space isV provided between the upper surfaces of the core sections 22 and the under surface of the l depending portion 44 of the plate 43.

The material from which the container is to be formed may beof any suitable character and introduced into the mold cavity in any suitable form, but, in the produc` and-handle-forming sheets shown as each formed of the plane section 12, and the aper-V tured sheet-section 13, the partition-forining sheets 14 and 15, the bottom-forming sheet 16, and the rib-forming strips 17. The various elements illustrated in Fig. 2 are shown in inverted condition, compared with the position they occupy in the finished container illustrated in Fig. 3, as the container is illustrated in the drawings as being molded in inverted condition. The edges of the sheets 14 and 15, shown uppermost in Fig. 2, contain series of notches 18, the walls of which convergedownwardly, to receive the rib-forming elements 17, the side walls of which converge downwardly, the elements 17 extending crosswise of the sheets-12, 14

and 15 and abutting at their ends the inner faces of the sheets 12. The edges of the elements 13 shown lowermost in Fig. 2, are provided with depending portions 19 which, in the finished structure, extend above the plane of the upper edges of the side walls 11 and the partitions 14 and 15, and are out` wardly offset yfrom the walls 12, the portions 19 containing openings 20 therein to form finger grips by means of which the finished battery may be conveniently handled.

In forming a container the various elements shown in Fig. 2, preferably heated before being applied to the mold to render the rubber compound of putty-like consistency, are assembled with the core as follows: The partition-forming sheets 14 and 15 are inserted into the spaces 25 to rest at their lower edges on the portion of the plate 21 beneath them, tbe notches 18 registering with the notches 27 in this position of the sheets 14 and 15 and the elements 17 then introduced into the notches 18 and 27; the elements 13 are then applied to the coreplates 32 to cause the portions 19 to extend into the channels 35 and the assembled core-plates 32 and elements 13- applied to position on the core-plate 21, the plates 32 being positioned as shown in Fig. 1; the sheets 12 are then applied to the outer end surfaces of the two outermost core sections 22 to extend at their lower edges upon the tops of the core-plates 32 and into the spaces between the core-sections 22 and the elements 13, the upper surfaces of the strips 17 extending substantially flush with the upper edges of the sheets 12, 14 and 15; the sheets 11 are then applied to the opposed remaining sides of the core-structure to rest upon the bars 29, and preferably completely overlap the end edges of the sheets 12; and the sheet 16 then applied to the upper edges of the other elements applied to the corestructure as stated, in which position it extends into the space provided between the upper ends of the core sections 22 and the under surface of the depending portion 44 of the plate 43, the sheet 16 being of such dimensions that it will, by preference, extend substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the elements 11 and 12.

The mold structure 39 is then applied to the plate 21 to surround the container-forming elements applied to the core-structure as stated, the structure 39 seating at its lower edge upon the ledge 28 and its depending portions 40 extending into the recesses 33. The top plate 42 is then applied to the top of the structure 39.

It may be here stated that the amount of container-forming material introduced into the mold` or in other words the amount of this material forming the elements shown in Fig. 2, is sufficiently in excess of the amount of the material contained in the finished container, this excess being preferably provided in the upper sheet 16, that the container-forming material, when subjected to the operations hereinafter described, will be caused to completely fill the mold cavities provided and permit of the material being subjected to the desired compressive stresses.

In accordance with the preferred manner toward the bottom plate 21, it being preferred that a force of substantially threefourths of a ton per square inch be applied, with the result that the container-forming plasticl material is forced with great pressure into all portions of the mold cavities, thereby firmly bonding contiguous marginal, and edge, portions of the various elements shown in Fig. 2. The mold is then placed in a hydraulic vulcanizer which, by preference, exerts the same force as that above stated against the top plate 43 and the plate 21, the vsteam in the vulcanizer circulating through the chambers 3G in the core-sections 22, by reason of the provision of the passages 37 and 38, the mold remaining in the vulcanizer until the containerforming material has become vulcanized to the desired degree, in which operations above stated, the various elements of Fig. 2 are caused to become united at their contiguous marginal portions and edges, into a substantially homogeneous structure and vulcanized to produce the integral container shown in Fig. 3.

After the mold and its contents have been subjected to the vulcanizing heat for the desired length of time the mold and its contents are preferably cooled, as for example by filling the hydraulic vulcanizer with cooling water, in place of the steam, and the mold and its contents cooled off while maintaining the pressure stated,l against the mold-plates.

In the subjection of the contents of the mold to the high presure as stated, the excess material is forced upwardly into and through the clearance 45 and into the substantially horizontal space between the upper edges of the structure 39 and the under side of the plate 431at its marginal portions, as represented more clearly in Fig. 7.

After cooling the formed container it is removed from the mold preferably by first removing the top-plate 43 following which the fin formed of the excess material referred to and represented at 46 is preferably removed as, for example, by running a knife around the lower edge of this fin where it connects with the main portion of the molded container, and the portion 39 of the mold, the opposed inner side walls of which preferably converge slightly upwardly. then lifted off the core-equipped plate 21, which leaves the formed container free to be stripped from the core-equipped plate 21 which may be readily effected in any suitable way, as for example by first removing the bars 29 and then forcing the container from the core-structure 21-22. After the I container has been stripped from the corevns structure 21-22, the core-plates 32 are removed from the handle-portion of the container.

A container constructed in accordance with my invention is not only highly durable, economical of manufacture, and leakproof, but also presents a neat and attractive appearance. ,l

The feature of so forming the mold that the lins of excess material where they'join the body of the container, extend in 'line with the outer surfaces of the container, instead of in line with the top surface of the container considering it in inverted condition, is of advantage, as thereby the molded structure is free of lateral projections at the body portion of the container which, if existent, would obstruct the ready removal of the portion 36 of the mold from the form container.

When desirable the separation of the mold portion 39 from the core with the container thereon, may be effected by supporting the combined core-structure, container and portion 39 upon those portions of the structure 39 which extend laterally beyond the plate to which the core-sections are secured, as will be noted, after the top plate has been removed, and downward pressure applied against the upper surface of the formed container, the latter beingl inverted, to force the container and core downwardly to free the container from the portion 39, the container afterwards being separated from the core as hereinbefore stated.

`While I have illustrated and described a articular construction of apparatus em- Eodying my invention, and described a particular way of utilizing it, I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit my invention thereto, as the same may be variously modified and altered, and the strue ture used in other ways, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. In a mold structure, side walls and a bottom plate having a rabbet in its edge providing a bottom forming surface surrounded by a shoulder, said surface of a size to project between said side Walls with the shoulder spaced therefrom, means to hold the bottom of the rabbet in spaced relation to the edges the walls whereby excess material within said mold may be formed into a ange. in a plane offset from the plapne of the bottom and overlapping said side walls.

2. A mold structure for molding apertured-handle-equipped containers portions of which present cores about which the material forming the handle portions is molded to form the apertures therein, said cores being removable from the molded handle portions.

3. A mold structure for molding apertured-handle-equipped containers portions of which present handle-portion-forming members separable from the body of the mold and equipped with cores about which the material forming the handle-portions is molded to form the apertures therein, said members being removable from the molded container.

4. In a mold structure, a bottom plate and a core, said structure presenting ledges extending laterally beyond said core, certain of said ledges containing upwardly open handle forming recesses between their ends.

5. In a mold structure, a bottom plate and a core, said structure presenting stepped ledges extending laterally beyond said core, certain of said ledges containing upwardly opn handle forming recesses between their en s.

6. In a mold structure, a bottom plate and a core, said structure presenting stepped ledges extending laterally beyond said core and located in different planes, outermost ones of said ledges containing upwardly opn handle forming recesses between their en s.'

7. In a mold structure, a bottom plate and a core, said structure presenting stepped ledges extending laterally beyond said core and located in different planes, certain of said outermost and innermost ledges containing upwardly open handle formingvrecesses between their ends.

JOHN M. AHLGREN. 

